Tile structure.



no. 640,846.' Y Patented 1an. 9, 1900.

F. L. n. wAnswonTH.

TILE STRUCTURE.

` (Application filed Apr. 13, 189B.) (No Model.) I 2 Sheets-Sheet I4 meMouans PETERS co. PHO-mums.. wnswmoon. n c.

Patented 1an. 9, |900.

F. L. 0. WADSWORTH.

TILE STRUCTURE. (Application led Apr. 13, 189B.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

.(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES l PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK L. O. VADSWORTH, OF WILLIAMS BAY, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO WILLIAMA. BOND, TRUSTEE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

f TILE STRUCTURE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 640,840, dated January9, 1900.

Application filed April 13,1898.

T0 a/ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK L. O. WADS- WORTH, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Williams Bay, in the county of Walworth and State ofWisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in TileStructures, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has for its object to connect together the tiles or platesassembled in a panel or other structure; and my invention consists inthe combination of a series of plates or tiles and a binding device, asfully set forth hereinafter and as illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which- Figure l illustrates in section partsl of two tiles,together with the improved binding device. Fig. 2 shows in section theparts of the binding device. Fig. 3 illustrates a bindingstrip of castor rolled metal. Fig. 4 is a sectional view illustrating the means forapplying the clamping-strip to the binding-strip. Fig. 5 is a plan Viewof a frame or sash constructed in accordance with my improvement. Fig. 6is a perspective view of part of said frame. Fig. 7 illustrates amodification.

The tiles, blocks, or plates N N may -be of any suitable and desirableshapes or materials, but as shown are prismatic tiles adapted for use inilluminating structures, where they must be assembled in numbers andrelation according to the size and proportions of the structure.

All the tiles to be assembled in any one structure are preferably formedwith edgesof uniform thickness, with at upper and lower faces, and theedges of contiguous tiles to be connected are brought together uponopposite sides of a binder piece or strip D. This strip has along oneedge a thickened portion or rib 1, and from the other extends on eachside a flange 2, the web 3 of the binder-strip being about equal inheight to the thickness of the edge of the tiles. "With this binderstripis used a clamp-strip p, Fig. 2, consisting of a grooved strip of springmetal adapted to spring over the thickened portion or rib 1, with twoouter side fianges 4 4. The binderstrip may be castor rolled in onesolid piece of any suitable material, as illustratedin Figs. 3 and 4, orit may be bent up into shape from Serial No. 677,485. (No model.)

sheet metal, as illustratedin Fig. 2. The strip p also may sometimes becast of soft metal or may be rolled therefrom or of sheet metal, thelatter being preferable, as it has a certain elasticity, permitting thestrip p to spread in passing onto the rib l and then contract, beingthusclamped in place, which is sufficient for some purposes. Thebinder-strip D is applied between the opposing edges of two tiles to beconnected, the lower faces of the tiles resting on the flanges 2 2, andthe strip p is then applied to the thickened portion of rib l with itsouter flanges bearing flat upon the upper faces of the tiles, theinterior channels fitting the ribs closely, so as to present vas small aprojecting portion as possible. This will do for some purposes; but tosecure a firmer connection the sides of the strip, especially if thelatter is of soft metal, may be forcibly bent in under the thickenedportion of rib by any suitable tool-as, for instance, by two travelingbending-wheels 7 7, carried by a carriage which is passed over thetiles, or the latter may slide on a support 8 below the wheels, as shownin Fig. 4. To secure a tight waterproof joint and a firmer structure, asuitable binder material may be interposed between the strips and theedges of the glass. One means consists of an electrodeposit between theparts. Another consists in applying cement to the faces of the stripsbefore the parts are assembled and then bringing them together, thepressure forcing the cement into all the cracks and interstices. Thiscement may be hardened by merely drying or by baking or treatment withother materials.

While the binder-strips are preferably provided with bearing-flanges 2,in some cases they have thickened portions or'ribs l at each edge, inwhich case two clamping-strips p must be used, as shown in Fig. 7.

The binder-strips may form the bars of a sash or frame E, which inclosesthe whole body of tile-sections forming a panehas shown in Fig. 5. Inthis case one set of binder-strips 8 8 8, preferably those extending thelong way of the frame, are first inserted at the proper distance apartand the tile-sections inserted between them and secured along the edges8 8 8, as above described. Short sec- The combination of the tiles,intervening strips having thickened portions and clamping-strips havingchannels eioseiy itting the thickened portions andvonter anges bearingon the tiles, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this speoication in thepresence of zo two subscribing witnesses. f

FRANK L. O. WADSWORTH. n

Vitnesses:

HARRY E. HAY, W. CLARENCE DUVALL.

